Right Steps to Work leads to Healthcare Apprenticeship for Fatima

Posted on 7th January, 2019

When Fatima lost her job as an assistant manager at a nursery, finding herself suddenly out of work came as a huge blow to her confidence and motivation.

Fatima heard about Halifax Opportunities Trust’s Employment Services team through her mum who attends a separate project run by the Trust called Staying Well. Fatima came along with her mum to some of the sessions and was introduced to Employment Advisor, Jo Denny. Jo suggested that Fatima join the Right Steps to Work programme to help her find meaningful work outside of the Early Years sector.

“Before I started working with Jo I felt like giving up – Jo has been so supportive,she has helped me with my CV and interview techniques, she has helped build my confidence back up to where it should be.”

Fatima had been applying for administrative roles away from Early Years, but her lack of experience was often cited by potential employers as an issue. To help Fatima gain the necessary experience Jo arranged for a placement at a local charity, Community Transport for Calderdale, as a volunteer Admin Assistant one day a week.

The volunteering helped Fatima with her confidence but getting rejected from the paid jobs she was applying for was taking its toll on Fatima’s motivation. “I had lost so much motivation but Jo always kept me positive, when she noticed my attendance at our meetings was waning she moved me from fortnightly meetings to weekly meetings and that push really helped me pick myself back up again – I always look forward to seeing Jo.”

With the support of Jo and the Employment Services team at Halifax Opportunities Trust Fatima has finally been successful in securing herself paid work as a Healthcare Apprentice in the NHS, she starts her new role in February 2019.

Elsie Whiteley Innovation Centre and Hanson Lane Enterprise Centre are both subsidiaries of Halifax Opportunities Trust. A company limited by guarantee and registered in England, number 4089288 / registered charity number 1086183 / VAT number 890540516.